at short intervals and once interpolated between these 
calls a double note ( pip- it) which sounded exactly like that 
of our Titlark. It is possible, of course, that the latter 
sound may have been made by a Titlark but it seemed to come 
directly from the bird I was watching and I could see no 
other in the air. The only occasion when I have noted this 
mysterious bird at any season other than autumn was on March 
28, 1911, when I heard the whit call of one which seemed to 
be flying over the orchard at the Farm, but which I failed 
to get sight of. Hitherto I have been utterly at a loss 
to even conjecture what the creature can be but this 
morning it suddenly occurred to me that the one I had just 
seen and heard might have been a Wheat ear . It did not 
think of it at the moment but several minutes later. What 
especially suggested the thought was the bird 8 s manner of 
flight and of fanning out its short square tail. I have 
repeatedly seen Wheatears in England but in most instances 
through car windows and I cannot recall ever hearing their 
notes. The fact that the birds met with have always occurred 
singly would support the Wheat-ear theory, I think. 
27 
